No we don't. We don't need such research and we don't need such policy.

All we need is Patricia, and everyone who agrees with her, to put their money where her mouth is. If Patricia thinks the aged are unfairly discriminated against in employment, then she can employ them, and they can help fund it. This way they'll be doing well at the same time as doing good. Since according to her theory, the aged are undervalued in the market, Patricia will make lots of profit, and the aged will have secure jobs paying above-market wages.

On the other hand, if Patricia's theory is wrong, she'll make lots of losses, and that is as it should be. But it won't be a burden for Patricia, because she's the one saying the aged are not a dependent burden. Which is why Patricia, and everyone who agrees with her, can pay for the care of the aged as well. No need for any policy.

The other possibility is that Patricia is making a display of ostentatious piety and fake social concern, and she knows she is.

An excellent article by Dr Patricia Edgar and Dr Don Edgar.

I was particularly struck by: "The New York Times reports studies that show seeing or hearing gloomy nostrums about what it is like to be old can make people walk more slowly, hear and remember less well, and even affect their cardio-vascular system."

I'd also add that sedentiary sports and pastimes are expected of those over 60 such as:

- fishing on a wharf or tinnie holding a tinnie of beer

- bowls with drinks at the club bar afterwards

- golf - lots of fatties play it - then drinks at the club bar

- housie, bingo, pokies - nursing a beer or wine

- watching live or large screen sport - beer in hand

all of these are unheathy and life limiting. Less grog for health.

How about fast walking or step-cross trainer machines instead?

Some research may be needed but not major tomes. Within a university curriculum, media (Fairfax and Murdoch) and advetising agencies its certain money for research can be allocated. All yielding brief results and conclusions for media, not wordy academic disseminations.

Pete

Exactly Patrica and Don.
And even truly obnoxious articles like JKJ, will be old one day, should he live so long!
However, he is right in one aspect.
Someone has to fund these new, age related Paradigms!
And that should come from the considerable savings, the postulated prevention model will indubitably create.
It costs as around $70,000.00 PA, just to maintain one elderly person in aged care nursing home, and less than $40,000.00 to fully maintain them in their own homes, with visiting house and garden services.
The only problem to date with the latter less costly model.
Is the fact that we fund service providers, not the most inherently efficient service?
Which arguably is just is what we would get, if the funding was instead, directed at the clients, rather than the (overcharge, under-provide) providers!?
Moreover, in too many cases, the infirm elderly, must travel to them, who just want to die in their own homes; as opposed to making some service providers, rich millionaires!?
It's just too easy, to manage a delivered service, in an orderly time saving manner!
Things I would include in true preventative care, include (artery softening) HRT, and cheap as chips, Hypobaric (compressed) pure oxygen therapy.
The only cure thus far, for the venous ulcers, that affect the legs of some of the less mobile elderly.
And such regular treatment, would deal with a lot of other aged care issues, currently costing many billions, in never ending tax payer funded management models!
Sometimes, the only thing that prevents the (alone) elderly from being more mobile and getting more healthy exercise, is a simple inability to put on shoes and socks, due to easily treated swelling, (compression stockings) or the stiffening of all those parts, needed to make such seemingly simple tasks possible.
If JKJ is truly/genuinely worried about the cost of aged care, and its impact on the overburdened taxpayer, he should be first in a very long queue, thoroughly endorsing this vastly more sane and massively less costly aged care model!
Rhrosty.

Aging dose need a new paradigm, Patrice's article is important because it sets, hopefully, the need for such an approach that the times demand. Changes that have occurred in the past within societies have belatedly registered in the consciousness of those societies. This led to the necessary changes being adopted that recognised the need for change being adopted. This inturn led to tragic mistakes being implemented.

The article points to the key error that caused the need for change being inplemented. Reseach was confined to a past paradigm that was unable to recognise that society had moved on. Which points to need for research to escape from past norms and research those where the change is happening, the aged.

I can identify with that group which enables me to feel the needs that have been identified in this article.

Aging is a triumph? Only a person deep in the thicket of insanity could make such a claim.

Aging is like walking in a minefield where cleverly hidden landmines have been planted to deceive the stumbling pilgrim whom age shall not weary, or so they say.

Don Quixote was written by someone who knew something about aging. Don attacked windmills thinking they were monsters. Don treated a women of uncertain age and virtue as though she was a Saint.

In the play, all the follies and foibles of aging were laid bare for all to see: the dribbling, the increasing uncertainty of certain bodily functions, the intolerance of the young towards older people, the painful stiffening of joints, the relentless loss of hearing and eyesight, the increasing visits to the doctor, the escalating costs of treatment, and so it goes, so it goes.

Aging has not been kind to me or most others that I've met. I don't know anyone that hasn't suffered.

Aging is a dire, messy, destructive process that leads to unpleasantness, loss of dignity, and death. That is the reality, folks.

A triumph? No, it's not!

The minority exceptions that prove the rule Pete, perhaps?
And hardly ever those living on pension payment handouts, (permanent penury) but rather, public service retirement privileges, (able bodied/security service providing TPI's) and some of the better off self funded!?
Would that we could all be high income earning (permanently sober) doctors, lawyers and public servants! And earn enough to save for a self funded retirement!
But someone has to do the hand to mouth seasonal jobs, shear the sheep, pick the fruit, polish the boots, clean the public toilets, empty the garbage cans, wait on tables, pick up after those who (hurl their bottles/cans/junk/needles/abuse) trash our streets and city highways/or the beaches of the world, excetera etc.
Often working in the wee small hours, when a patently privileged pokie playing Pete (given the company he seems to keep, boozing fishing; and, [not bloody golf again, hit a tiny wee ball around a great big one] bombastic bowls buddies) is resting on his many significant laurels and bias conformation!?
Non smoking, non drinking, non pokie playing, non betting, cross training Rhrosty.

Age shall not weary them Dave, because they're dead Dave!
We shall indeed remember them and the mockery of them and their most significant sacrifice you provided, with your par for the course, misquote!
No greater love hath a man, than he should lay down his life for another, and indeed, so it would seem, for those whose only ambition is to trash that service and that sacrifice!?
Graffitied any monuments/war memorials lately Dave, or do you just save that, diabolically disingenuous dishonoring, for a verbal equivalent on OLO?
Rhrosty.

Wow, now that really is a long winded motherhood statement. It could it be how to say nothing in a hell of a lot of words.

Sounds like a job application, for their current jobs to me, or a book sales add.

I'll give then one thing though, I don't think I saw the phrase under the poverty line, a welcome change when talking about us oldies.

OLO could become one of the top forums in the world, except for 'VERMIN' who inhabit the pages of this potentially great, online magazine!

Like blowflies around road-kill, they buzz about until they find some blood or an open mouth or staring, sightless eyes and then they pounce, lay their maggots, and, the job done, they fly off well pleased with themselves (but are ever ready to lay more of their ugly eggs at a moments notice).

When I post a comment on OLO I am always aware of the 'Vermin' and wonder how they'll twist my words, or insult me, or members of my family. Recently, one of the 'Vermin' even insulted my dead mother. No action was taken by the 'Moderator'.

But there's one thing the 'Vermin' really hate. That's anyone who comes up with an original idea or observation. No, if something doesn't pass the 'Pub Test' or the 'Ocker Test' or the 'Feral' test, it must be attacked using any or all means no matter how juvenile or irrational or inane or unfair.

Don't get me wrong. There are some excellent folk on OLO whose comments are always a pleasure to read. Then, unfortunately, there are some habitual types who say the same thing over and over each week, or who use Biblical Floods of Words to say something simple, or who try to show how clever or intelligent they are when they are clearly neither.

I would appeal to the readership of OLO to ignore the 'VERMIN'! Don't respond to their repulsive eggs which are destroying the OLO host.

Dear Rhrosty

Yee only have one more post today to redeem yourself. Repent man. Time be ticking away.

I truly aerobically exercise 5 times a week - on 2 beers a week.

Middle age does not weary me.

Am so much happier.

So there :)

Pete

An interesting article. So little has been done in Oz to prepare for an ageing population, that I welcome articles such as this. I doubt though that there is time to change people's attitudes to the Boomers ageing. The focus should really be on financial literacy so that they don't retire too soon, then find they don't have enough super and try get back in to the workforce. Almost impossible these days.

as someone about to reach 70 - the end of the 60s, not yet the start of the 70s - ageing's signs are all around, that's for sure: arthritis, aches and pains that were never experienced before (too many pushups produced those!) - but nothing that acupuncture and exercise can't keep at bay. I could do with some part time work, but I'd be whistling dixie most of the time with most employers, but I keep an open mind.
Mostly, I'm surprised I made it this far, but it's a bit like the bloke falling off the 75th floor, and shouting as he passes the 20th: 'So far, so good.'
I'm blest to be surrounded by good friends, a loving wife of almost 20 years marriage, and a fine son about to graduate in a year or so.
And a great cross terrier guard dog, who's ageing even faster than I am, but doesn't know and doesn't care.
And I'm happy - and hope to see it just like that at the very end.